Stable Manures for Fruits. 211 



ming, and interest on investment are quite as great 

 in one ease as in the other." 



Stable manure. The kinds of fertilizing applica- 

 tions are of two types, stable manures and concen- 

 trated or commercial plant -foods. The stable manures 

 exercise a most important effect upon the physical 

 features of the soil, and, in fact, this is often their 

 greatest value. In this respect, stable manures may 

 answer much the same purpose as green or cover 

 crops, particularly if they are applied in fall or 

 early winter. When manure is not sufficient to 

 cover the entire plantation, it should be applied to 

 the hardest and driest spots only, and these spots 

 should be observed and noted the previous season. 

 Lands which are so hard or dry that even rye will 

 not catch, may be got under way for the cover 

 crops by liberal applications of barn manures. Rota- 

 tion in the use of fertilizers may be found to be 

 as useful as it is in the case of cover crops. A 

 soil which has had a liberal application of stable 

 manure one year, may profit more by some chemical 

 fertilizer the next year. 



In orchards which are thoroughly tilled, the use 

 of barn manures should sometimes be discouraged, 

 for the chief element of fertility in them if they 

 are not leached is usually nitrogen. This advice is 

 particularly applicable to vineyards, and all other 

 fruits which run very strongly to wood. In such 

 cases, it is better economy to apply the manures to 

 the annual crops of the farm. The old, neglected 

 u|)ple orchards of the country, however, may receive 



